Abdominal band



M. A. FONTAlN E March 6, 1928.

ABDOMINAL BAND Filed Nov. 23. 1925 IINVEQNTOR. fi m Patented Mar. 6, 1928,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABDOMINAL BAND.

Application filed November 23, 1925. Serial No. 70,784

My invention relates to abdominal. or groin supporters particularly useful after surgical operations for hernia.

lVhen there is an operation for hernia or for anything else where the incision is inade around the lower curve of the abdomen near the groin, it is very difficult to properly support the wound and the dressing for the wound, on account of the curve of the body and the muscular action of the adjoining parts.

For convalescing patients, or in fact for any others, it is. highly desirable that a supporter should be soft and yield to the movements of the body, but should not stretch so as to get out of shape or position, but should conform to the inoveniei'its of the body. 7

I therefore prefer to make my belt bands and leg straps of that kind of knitted ma terial which yields readily transversely but little if any, longitudinally.

In the drawings, Fig.1 is a. front view of one type of my supporter in position, the body and le s of the wearer being shown diagraniati'ca lly.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view as from the left on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing how the triangular piece is attached to one of the leg bands, and the shape the parts assume when in position.

Fig. 5 is a front View of a modification of my supporter in place.

Fig. 6 is aback View of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the wearer and B, B, the legs. 10 and 11 represent the hips and 12 the upper portion of the abdomen while 13 represents the lower or curved portion. 14 represents the groin.

My supporter as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a knitted band 0 adapted to go around the body A, and to be shaped around the hips and extending down in front to conform to the shape of the abdomen.

The body of band C indicated preferably made of knitted material bound at the top 81 at the line of umbilicus and at the bottom 32 with an inelastic band, the material itself being of such consistency that it will yield towards and from bands 31 and 32 but very little longitudinally or parallel to the bands.

Atthe front of band C is the non-elastic flexible portion D which is'preferably reinby 30 is forced with cloth 29 and has the vertical pockctsliQ, 33, 34, 8 1 in which are the strips preferably of non-elastic but flexible material such as feathcrbone 35.

At the back, belt C is reinforced at at), and in one end is a vertical slit 41 through which the hip straps 42, 41-2 are passed being then passed through the loops 14;, 1e1- and engaged with buckleseS, 13 at the end of other hip straps 45 attached tothe other end of the hand. The band and itship straps therefore preferably extendaround the body twice.

F F, represent the leg straps AlSOll'lZHlG of knitted material which will stretch laterally but not longitudinally, and prt-iferably of tubular form.

These leg straps F, F, areattzuzheiil for a short distance at their upper edges'to the bottom of the front portion D near its bottom edge at band 32, and extend around the leg at 51 engaging buckles 50 at the other end. These leg straps F, F, pass down un der the buttocks 20 to hold the device down in position around the hips and abdomen.

The principal features of my. device are the triangular pieces Gr, G, of preferably the same knit material, each fastened at one edge at the bottom of the front D, and at another edge 71 partly across the adjoining leg strap F. Y

In order to pull in the lower front part of the band C to fit the lower part 13 of the abdomen without passing a string orstrap down between the legs and up so that it is fastened at the back of a belt, and on account of the changing position of the parts while walking, I use'triangular pieces G, G, as described.

The upper edge 54 of each leg band F follows the recess or depression between the groin and the body, and by fastening the top 70 of the triangular piece to the lower band 32 and the edge 71 at any point between the top and bottom edges of band F or in other words partly across the leg portion, the pull down and inward of the material and of the third edge 72 causes the lower front portion of the non-elastic flexible portion D to curve in.

H represents a surgical pad of dressing such as used after hernia operations, which may be sewed in position, or may be simply placed in position as it will be held in place portion D is caused to bend down and around the bottom part 13 of the abdomen and to hold such pad H in position under all circumstances.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a modification of my supporter in which L represents the inner belt band having the tightening straps 80 with buckles S1 at the back, and M represents an outer belt band with the straps S4 and buckles 85 at the back.

L and M are preferably both made of knit material of tubular form which will yield transversely but very little longitudinally.

N is a reinforced inelastic flexible part corresponding with D, preferably having the featherbone ribs 90, 90, while the leg straps F and triangular parts G are the same as in Figs. 1 to 3, being sewed together with the bottom part of inner belt L and the reinforced part N along the line 95.

It is very desirable that a belt of this character should not curl. and I therefore prefer to have the back stitt'ened in the manner shown, and the front non-elastic or nonstretchable, but somewhat flexible.

The principal feature of my device however is the traingular supporting pieces such as shown at G and T in detail in Fig. t.

In views from Fig. 1 to Fig. 4:, represents the top edge of my supporting piece (1: which is fastened to the bottom of the non-elastic, flexible front portion 1) of the band C while its bottom edge 71 is fastened partly across the adjoining leg strap F. This leaves the third edge 72 free, and when all the parts are in place, G fits around the lower part of the abdomen near the groin, where it can support a surgical pad such as H, to the best advantage.

I may attach this bottom edge 71 in any direction on strap F so as to make it fit the individual. The pull of the leg strap stretches this triangular piece between the semi-flexible bottom part of l and the top edge of the leg strap, and may slightly curve the lower part of l), but in any case it will front portion reinforced with vertical strips of featherbonc adapted to fit the front of the abdomen; with leg straps of knitted material attached to the bottom of the band; and triangular supporting pieces of soft material each fastened'atits top edge to the bottom edge of the front portion and at its bottom edge fastened partly across the adjoining leg strap.

2. In an abdominal supporter, the combination of a knitted band adapted to go around the body and to be tightened and fastened thereon, said band having a nonelast'ic flexible front portion adapted to lit; the front of the abdomen; with leg straps the front parts of which are of knitted material the top edge of each of such knitted parts being attached to the bottom edge of said non-elastic flexible front portion of said band; and triangular pulling pieces each made of knit material and each fastened at its top edge to the bottom edge of said nonelastic flexible front; portion of the band and having another edge extending from the junction of the top edge of a leg strap with said front portion partly across and fastened to said leg strap and having its third edge free.

MARIE ALIDA FONTAINE. 

